Two candidates die before the election; Election Commission postpones elections in two wards in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the deaths of candidates, the Election Commission has postponed elections in two locations in Kerala. The elections have been postponed in the Vizhinjam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and Ward No. 7 of the Moothedam Panchayat in Malappuram. The new polling dates will be announced later. Local body elections – 1.32 crore voters, 15,432 polling stations; the first phase of polling is being held today in seven districts of Kerala.

Voting was scheduled for Tuesday in Vizhinjam. The deceased candidate in the Vizhinjam ward was Justin Francis (60), an independent candidate. A parked auto-rickshaw rolled uncontrollably and struck Justin. He was admitted to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries in the evening.
Voting was scheduled for Wednesday in Moothedam. Vattamath Haseena (52), the UDF candidate from Ward 7, Payimpadam, of the Moothedam Panchayat in Malappuram, collapsed after returning home late at night after campaigning. Haseena, a leader of the Muslim League, was a teacher at the Payimpadam Anganwadi.